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Galileo - In Trouble with the Catholic Church

Galileo wanted to convince church leaders that Copernicus was right. The Medici’s ambassador to Rome wrote home with his own observations about Galileo’s progress. He was frankly worried that Galileo could be in trouble - as would anyone who supported him. That meant a potential negative situation with the very family who had previously supported him in Florence.

Meanwhile, Galileo continued to believe that astronomy was not a matter of theology. Hoping to convince Cardinal Bellamine (the Inquisitor) of the “rightness” of his own position, Galileo continued to misread all the warning signs which were developing against him.

Before Galileo was able to personally meet with the Inquisitor, a church council met to vote on the theories of Copernicus. They concluded the thinker was wrong.

Media Credits

Clip from "Galileo's Battle for the Heavens," a NOVA Production by Green Umbrella, LTD for WGBH/Boston (in association with Channel 4). Copyright 2002 - WGBH Educational Foundation, all rights reserved. Clip provided here as fair use for educational purposes and to acquaint new viewers with the 2002 program. Online, courtesy NOVA and YouTube.